Diamond Dawg Gameday: Governor’s Cup

Pearl, Miss. – The Bulldogs will continue a seven-game road trip when they face Ole Miss, for the Governor's Cup on Tuesday. The game is set for 6 p.m., and it will be played at Trustmark Park in Pearl, home of the Mississippi Braves.

The game will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/Listen. Click HERE for a full list of the 2023 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

Gameday Info
Tuesday, April 25 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Evan Siary (0-1), RHP, Fr.
UM: Grayson Saunier (2-2), RHP Fr.

LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Quick Hitters

The Dawgs are looking at becoming just the third school in SEC history to win 1,000 Southeastern Conference contests. The only schools to accomplish this feat are Florida and LSU. Mississippi State has 994 SEC wins in program history.
The Diamond Dawgs have been racking up strikeouts this season. Over 40 games, the Dawgs have tallied 422 Ks. The 422 punchouts are the ninth most in the NCAA this season. The staff ranks 11th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 11.0.
Since starting SEC play, sophomore Hunter Hines has been crushing the baseball. He is hitting .314 over SEC play. Out of his 22 hits, nine have been home runs and he has 20 RBIs over 18 games. Over the course of the season, Hines is hitting .321 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has 18 home runs on the season, which is tied for sixth in the nation.
Ross Highfill exploded at the plate in game three against Lipscomb. He hit three home runs, becoming the first Bulldog to do such since Brent Rooker did on April 8, 2017. He then added a two-home run game against Alabama in the first game of the series.
The Dawgs have hit 71 home runs the 17th best mark in the NCAA. The Dawgs hit at least one home run in each of the last five SEC games, including four homers in game two of the Auburn series. The Dawgs have hit a home run in 32 of 40 games this season, including hitting a homer in 7 of the last 8 games. Eleven different players have hit a homer this season.
The Diamond Dawgs are finding ways to reach base this season, including drawing walks. The Bulldogs have drawn 244 base on balls this season, which is tied for the tenth most in the NCAA. Nine different players have drawn ten or more walks this season. Colton Ledbetter leads the team with 41 walks this season. Luke Hancock follows with 36 walks, while Amani Larry is third on the team with 30. Ledbetter is tied at sixth in the nation for walks.
Mississippi State is great at turning out major league talent, with 66 Diamond Dawgs reaching the highest level of the sport, but it is also great at keeping student-athletes on campus. The Dawgs returned one player, KC Hunt, who was drafted in the 12th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. This season, the Dawgs had seven players on Opening Day Rosters.
Mississippi State has the BEST fans in collegiate baseball, which showed during the 2023 season. The Dawgs averaged the most fans on opening weekend, and led the nation with 11,127 per game. For Super Bulldog Weekend, 43,986 fans showed up and out for a three-game set, averaging 14,662 per game. They also set the NCAA record for single game attendance for an on-campus facility at the Dude when 16,423 fans gushed into the stadium when the Diamond Dawgs took on Ole Miss on April 15, 2023.
The Bulldog's captain, Luke Hancock, was named to the 2023 Buster Posey Award Watch List. This award goes to the best catcher in collegiate baseball.
Sophomore Nate Dohm was named to the NWBCA Stopper of the Year Watch List, and we can see why. He has made 12 appearances out of the bullpen this year and holds an ERA of 2.20. In 28.2 innings pitched, he has 32 strikeouts and five wins, while picking up two saves.

Scouting the Opponent – Ole Miss

Mike Bianco is in his 23^rd season as the head coach of the Rebels. He holds a 875-504-1 record while at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss enters the midweek match with an overall record of 21-19.
The Rebels finished 42-23 on the 2022 campaign, with a 14-16 conference record, before ultimately winning the National Championship.
Ole Miss ranks 39^th nationally in home runs, with a total of 62. Kemp Alderman leads the squad with 17, which ranks 11^th nationally.
The Rebels' pitching staff enters the weekend with a 5.64 ERA.
Ole Miss bats .290 as a squad. They are led by Kemp Alderman, who is batting .354 on the season.
Xavier Rivas leads the Rebels in victories (5) and he leads the team with 57 strikeouts.

Series Notes

The Dawgs and the Rebels meet for the 472^nd time on Tuesday when they play a non-conference game for the Governor's Cup.
Earlier this season, on Super Bulldog Weekend, MSU took the series over Ole Miss. The Dawgs won two-of-three over the Rebels.
State leads the all-time series 262-209-5.
The first matchup between these two programs was during in 1892.

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Diamond Dawg Gameday: Governor’s Cup

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Evan Siary

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Governor’s Cup

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Evan Siary

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